By Tom Kendra
Local Sports Journal
This year’s Meijer Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame Classic Basketball Tournament could double as the “Battle of I-96.”
The 14-member MASHF board has seen the 12th-annual event evolve from a local tournament featuring the Muskegon vs. Muskegon Heights matchup into a statewide draw that includes four top teams from along the I-96 corridor – Muskegon High School (Muskegon), East Kentwood (Grand Rapids), Lansing Eastern (Lansing) and Westland John Glenn (Detroit).
“It should be two very good nights of basketball,” said Tournament Director and MASHF board member Mike Mack. “It’s interesting to see how teams from different parts of the state play and match up with each other.
“And what’s happened is that this has become more than a basketball tournament. People come home for the holidays and they look forward to seeing each other at this event.”
All tickets are $6 per day and are sold only at the door, with proceeds going back to the competing schools and to support the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame. The tournament has raised more than $110,000 for the competing schools since its inception in 2002.
MEIJER MASHF HOLIDAY CLASSIC – Boys Tournament at Reeths-Puffer (Tickets are $6 per day)
Friday, Dec. 27: 6 p.m. – East Kentwood vs. Lansing Eastern; 7:30 p.m. – Muskegon vs. Westland John Glenn
Saturday, Dec. 28: 6 p.m. – Lansing Eastern vs. Westland John Glenn; 7:30 p.m. – Muskegon vs. East Kentwood
